Pearl Jam: Kids ‘Deserve’ to Live in a Country Free From Gun Violence

The shooting that claimed the lives of 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday (Feb. 14) has reignited the long-standing debate about gun control in America. It was the 18th school shooting to take place in the country in 2018 alone and Pearl Jam are calling for action in a "#throwthemout" campaign.

"We're done with 'leaders' who refuse to lead on commonsense gun safety laws. It's time to #ThrowThemOut," the band declared yesterday (Feb. 16) in a tweet. The statement accompanied an image outlining the "plan to kick out lawmakers beholden to the gun lobby" with a set of steps to take, linking out to an EveryTown website.

A little over an hour later, Pearl Jam followed up the tweet with another message, adding, "We deserve to live in a country where children live free from gun violence in their schools, in their homes, and in their communities. #EndGunViolence." The band also provided another EveryTown link, this one listing "7 Actions You Can Take to Prevent Gun Violence."

Historically, Pearl Jam have maintained awareness of social issues throughout the decades. In the fall of last year, Eddie Vedder joined the #takeaknee movement populated by Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players and guitarist Mike McCready performed the National Anthem at a Seattle Seahawks home game, revealing he stood with outspoken player Michael Bennett.